274 research outputs found
Creating a Language Archive of Insular South East Asia and West New Guinea
The geographical region of Insular South East Asia and New Guinea is well-known as an area of mega-biodiversity. Less well-known is the extreme linguistic diversity in this area: over a quarter of the world’s 6,000 languages are spoken here. As small minority languages, most of them will cease to be spoken in the coming few generations. The project described here ensures the preservation of unique records of languages and the cultures encapsulated by them in the region. The language resources were gathered by twenty linguists at, or in collaboration with, Dutch universities over the last 40 years, and were compiled and archived in collaboration with The Language Archive (TLA) at the Max Planck Institute in Nijmegen. The resulting archive constitutes a collection ofmultimediamaterials and written documents from 48 languages in Insular South East Asia and West New Guinea. At TLA, the data was archived according to state-of-the-art standards (TLA holds the Data Seal of Approval): the component metadata infrastructure CMDI was used; all metadata categories as well as relevant units of annotation were linked to the ISO data category registry ISOcat. This guaranteed proper integration of the language resources into the CLARIN framework. Through the archive, future speaker communities and researchers will be able to extensively search thematerials for answers to their own questions, even if they do not themselves know the language, and even if the language dies
Incremental concept learning with few training examples and hierarchical classification
Object recognition and localization are important to automatically interpret video and allow better querying
on its content. We propose a method for object localization that learns incrementally and addresses four key
aspects. Firstly, we show that for certain applications, recognition is feasible with only a few training samples.
Secondly, we show that novel objects can be added incrementally without retraining existing objects, which is
important for fast interaction. Thirdly, we show that an unbalanced number of positive training samples leads
to biased classi er scores that can be corrected by modifying weights. Fourthly, we show that the detector
performance can deteriorate due to hard-negative mining for similar or closely related classes (e.g., for Barbie
and dress, because the doll is wearing a dress). This can be solved by our hierarchical classi cation. We introduce
a new dataset, which we call TOSO, and use it to demonstrate the e ectiveness of the proposed method for the
localization and recognition of multiple objects in images.This research was performed in the GOOSE project, which is jointly funded by the enabling technology program
Adaptive Multi Sensor Networks (AMSN) and the MIST research program of the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
This publication was supported by the research program Making Sense of Big Data (MSoBD).peer-reviewe
Breaking into the conversation: cultural value and the role of the South African National Arts Festival from apartheid to democracy
The paper examines the value of the South African National Arts Festival (NAF) in the transition to democracy using theories of cultural capital. NAF history from 1974 to 2004 is used to argue that the Festival provided an important arena for the expression of political resistance in the 1980s and, to some degree, continues to do so today. It is concluded that an important part of the value of the arts is their ability to provide a forum for debating the goals and values of society and that individualistic utility theory is not always successful in measuring such social value
Functional or not functional; that's the question Can we predict the diagnosis functional movement disorder based on associated features?
Background and purpose Functional movement disorders (FMDs) pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Over the years several associated features have been shown to be suggestive for FMDs. Which features mentioned in the literature are discriminative between FMDs and non-FMDs were examined in a large cohort. In addition, a preliminary prediction model distinguishing these disorders was developed based on differentiating features. Method Medical records of all consecutive patients who visited our hyperkinetic outpatient clinic from 2012 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and 12 associated features in FMDs versus non-FMDs were compared. An independentttest for age of onset and Pearson chi-squared analyses for all categorical variables were performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to develop a preliminary predictive model for FMDs. Results A total of 874 patients were eligible for inclusion, of whom 320 had an FMD and 554 a non-FMD. Differentiating features between these groups were age of onset, sex, psychiatric history, family history, more than one motor phenotype, pain, fatigue, abrupt onset, waxing and waning over long term, and fluctuations during the day. Based on these a preliminary predictive model was computed with a discriminative value of 91%. Discussion Ten associated features are shown to be not only suggestive but also discriminative between hyperkinetic FMDs and non-FMDs. Clinicians can use these features to identify patients suspected for FMDs and can subsequently alert them to test for positive symptoms at examination. Although a first preliminary model has good predictive accuracy, further validation should be performed prospectively in a multi-center study
Cardiometabolic Plasticity in Response to a Short-Term Diet and Exercise Intervention in Young Hispanic and NonHispanic White Adults
BACKGROUND: Young adult Mexican Americans (MA) exhibit lower insulin sensitivity (Si) than nonHispanic whites (NHW), even when controlling for fitness and adiposity. It is unclear if MA are as responsive to the same lifestyle intervention as NHW. OBJECTIVE: We developed a model to examine cardiometabolic plasticity (i.e., changes in Si and plasma lipids) in MA compared to NHW adults in response to a diet-exercise intervention. DESIGN: Sedentary subjects (20 NHW: 11F, 9M, 23.0 y, 25.5 kg/m(2); 17 MA: 13F, 4M, 22.7 y, 25.4 kg/m(2)) consumed their habitual diets and remained sedentary for 7 days, after which fasting blood samples were obtained, and a 3-h intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed with the insulin area under the curve (IAUC) used to estimate Si. Subjects then completed a 7-day diet/exercise intervention (diet: low saturated fat, low added sugar, high fiber; exercise: cycling, six total sessions lasting 40-45 min/session at 65% VO(2) max). Pre-intervention tests were repeated. RESULTS: Pre intervention IAUC was 28% higher (p<0.05) in MA (IAUC pre = 2298 µU*180 min/mL) than in NHW (IAUC = 1795 µU*180 min/mL). Following the intervention, there was a significant reduction in IAUC in MA (29%) and NHW (32%), however, the IAUC remained higher (p<0.05) for MA (post = 1635 µU*180 min/mL) than for NHW (post = 1211 µU*180 min/mL). Pre test plasma lipids were not different in MA compared to NHW. Plasma cholesterol and TG concentrations significantly improved in both groups, but concentrations of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and small dense LDL particles significantly improved only in the NHW. CONCLUSION: With a short-term diet-exercise intervention, the magnitude of improvements in Si and serum cholesterol and TG in Hispanics are similar to those in NHW. However, because at the outset MA were less insulin sensitive compared to NHW, within the short timeframe studied the ethnic gap in insulin sensitivity remained
L-lysine as adjunctive treatment in patients with schizophrenia: a single-blinded, randomized, cross-over pilot study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accumulating evidence suggests that the brain's nitric oxide (NO) signalling system may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and could thus constitute a novel treatment target. The study was designed to investigate the benefit of L-lysine, an amino acid that interferes with NO production, as an add-on treatment for schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>L-lysine, 6 g/day, was administered to 10 patients with schizophrenia as an adjunctive to their conventional antipsychotic medication. The study was designed as a single-blinded, cross-over study where patients were randomly assigned to initial treatment with either L-lysine or placebo and screened at baseline, after four weeks when treatment was crossed over, and after eight weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>L-lysine treatment caused a significant increase in blood concentration of L-lysine and was well tolerated. A significant decrease in positive symptom severity, measured by the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), was detected. A certain decrease in score was also observed during placebo treatment and the effects on PANSS could not unequivocally be assigned to the L-lysine treatment. Furthermore, performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was significantly improved compared to baseline, an effect probably biased by training. Subjective reports from three of the patients indicated decreased symptom severity and enhanced cognitive functioning.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Four-week L-lysine treatment of 6 g/day caused a significant increase in blood concentration of L-lysine that was well tolerated. Patients showed a significant decrease in positive symptoms as assessed by PANSS in addition to self-reported symptom improvement by three patients. The NO-signalling pathway is an interesting, potentially new treatment target for schizophrenia; however, the effects of L-lysine need further evaluation to decide the amino acid's potentially beneficial effects on symptom severity in schizophrenia.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00996242">NCT00996242</a></p
A sensitive search for CO J=1-0 emission in 4C 41.17: high-excitation molecular gas at z=3.8
We report sensitive imaging observations of the CO J=1-0 line emission in the
powerful high-redshift radio galaxy 4C 41.17 (z=3.8) with the NRAO Very Large
Array (VLA), conducted in order to detect the large concomitant H_2 gas
reservoir recently unveiled in this system by De Breuck et al (2005) via the
emission of the high excitation J=4-3 line. Our observations fail to detect the
J=1-0 line but yield sensitive lower limits on the R_43=(4-3)/(1-0) brightness
temperature ratio of R_43 ~ 0.55 - >1.0 for the bulk of the H_2 gas mass. Such
high ratios are typical of the high-excitation molecular gas phase ``fueling''
the star formation in local starbursts, but quite unlike these objects, much of
the molecular gas in 4C 41.17 seems to be in such a state, and thus
participating in the observed starburst episode. The widely observed and unique
association of highly excited molecular gas with star forming sites allows CO
line emission with large (high-J)/(low-J) intensity ratios to serve as an
excellent ``marker'' of the spatial distribution of star formation in distant
dust-obscured starbursts, unaffected by extinction.Comment: 7 Pages including 8 PostScript figures. Accepted for publication in
Astronomy & Astrophysic
VLBI studies of DAGN and SMBHB hosting galaxies
Dual active galactic nuclei (DAGN) and supermassive black hole binaries
(SMBHBs) at kpc and pc-scale separations, respectively, are expected during
stages of galaxy merger and evolution. Their observational identification can
address a range of areas of current astrophysics frontiers including the final
parsec problem and their contribution towards the emission of low-frequency
gravitational waves. This has however been difficult to achieve with current
spectroscopy and time domain strategies. Very long baseline interferometry
(VLBI) as a method of directly imaging radio structures with milli-arcsecond
(mas) and sub-mas resolutions is introduced as a possible means of detecting
DAGN and SMBHBs. We motivate its usage with expected observational signatures
and cite some studies from literature to illustrate its current status, and
present an updated list of candidates imaged with high-resolution radio
observations. We then recall some shortcomings of the method with possible
solutions and discuss future directions, relevant to large surveys with the
upcoming Square Kilometer Array and future space VLBI missions.Comment: 13 pages, 2 table; Radio Science (accepted
The ATLAS 5.5 GHz survey of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South: Catalogue, Source Counts and Spectral Indices
Star forming galaxies are thought to dominate the sub-mJy radio population,
but recent work has shown that low luminosity AGN can still make a significant
contribution to the faint radio source population. Spectral indices are an
important tool for understanding the emission mechanism of the faint radio
sources. We have observed the extended Chandra Deep Field South at 5.5 GHz
using a mosaic of 42 pointings with the Australia Telescope Compact Array
(ATCA). Our image reaches an almost uniform sensitivity of ~12 microJy rms over
0.25 deg^2 with a restoring beam of 4.9 x 2.0 arcsec, making it one of the
deepest 6cm surveys to date. We present the 5.5 GHz catalogue and source counts
from this field. We take advantage of the large amounts of ancillary data in
this field to study the 1.4 to 5.5 GHz spectral indices of the sub-mJy
population. For the full 5.5 GHz selected sample we find a flat median spectral
index, alpha_med = -0.40, which is consistent with previous results. However,
the spectral index appears to steepen at the faintest flux density levels
(S_{5.5 GHz} < 0.1 mJy), where alpha_med = -0.68. We performed stacking
analysis of the faint 1.4 GHz selected sample (40 < S_{1.4 GHz} < 200 microJy)
and also find a steep average spectral index, alpha = -0.8, consistent with
synchrotron emission. We find a weak trend of steepening spectral index with
redshift. Several young AGN candidates are identified using spectral indices,
suggesting Gigahertz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) sources are as common in the mJy
population as they are at Jy levels.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
A new search for distant radio galaxies in the southern hemisphere - I. Sample definition and radio properties
This paper introduces a new program to find high-redshift radio galaxies in
the southern hemisphere through ultra-steep spectrum (USS) selection. We define
a sample of 234 USS radio sources with spectral indices alpha_408^843 < -1.0
and flux densities S_408 > 200 mJy in a region of 0.35 sr, chosen by
cross-correlating the revised 408 MHz Molonglo Reference Catalogue, the 843 MHz
Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey and the 1400 MHz NRAO VLA Sky Survey in
the overlap region -40 deg < delta < -30 deg. We present Australia Telescope
Compact Array (ATCA) high-resolution 1384 and 2368 MHz radio data for each
source, which we use to analyse the morphological, spectral index and
polarization properties of our sample. We find that 85 per cent of the sources
have observed-frame spectral energy distributions that are straight over the
frequency range 408-2368 MHz, and that, on average, sources with smaller
angular sizes have slightly steeper spectral indices and lower fractional
linear polarization. Fractional polarization is anti-correlated with flux
density at both 1400 and 2368 MHz. We also use the ATCA data to determine
observed-frame Faraday rotation measures for half of the sample.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS.
Correct version of SUMSS catalogue now noted in Section 2.1.2; analysis and
conclusions unchanged. A higher-resolution version of Figure 1 is available
at http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~jess/papers.htm
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